3 big lessons the Dodgers can learn from Rangers and Diamondbacks

The Texas Rangers just claimed their first World Series in franchise history after defeating the Arizona Diamondbacks in five games. While the Rangers made quick work of the Diamondbacks, there are many lessons the Dodgers can learn from both teams that made the World Series. From optimizing the strengths of a pitching staff to deciding who makes the postseason roster in the first place, both teams did a lot of things right to fight their way from the Wild Card to the World Series.

While the Dodgers had a disappointing end to the 2023 season by getting swept at the hands of the Diamondbacks, maybe some fans will feel just a little bit better knowing LA lost to the pennant winner. Or, other fans might look at the Diamondbacks' path to the World Series and think "that should have been us."

Regardless of how the Diamondbacks making the World Series (or watching Corey Seager win the World Series MVP again) makes you feel as a fan, there are a few lessons the Dodgers can learn from these two teams.

3 big lessons the Dodgers can learn from Rangers and Diamondbacks

October Performers Are Paramount

The Rangers were led throughout the postseason by Adolis Garcia, who had the most RBI in a single postseason without even finishing the World Series (he was injured in Game 3), and former Dodgers star Corey Seager. While Marcus Semien and Max Scherzer did not live up to the lofty expectations placed on them throughout the postseason, Scherzer's three scoreless innings in Game 3 were extremely important, and Semien rebounded from his earlier struggles by tallying five hits in his final 14 at-bats, which included a go-ahead RBI single in Game 3, a triple and home run in Game 4, and the series-sealing two-run home run in the ninth inning of Game 5.

For the Diamondbacks, Corbin Carroll was unstoppable against the Brewers, and helped finish off the Phillies with a three-hit, two-RBI Game 7. Ketel Marte had a hit in every game of the postseason until Game 5 of the World Series (and he still had three walks in that game). All of this is to say that if you want to win in the postseason, you need your stars to show up.

Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman have had well-documented struggles in recent postseasons (especially in 2023), and the duo of Garcia and Seager that almost willed the Rangers singlehandedly to a title definitely indicates that if LA wants to get back to the top of the baseball world, Betts and Freeman will need to be at the heart of that effort.